Simon has spent the last ten years in a hospital bed, unable to move or speak—his world no larger than the space between the door and the window across from him. When a cruel nurse gives him an experimental injection meant to “bring him closer to the Pattern,” Simon’s long quiet life collapses into darkness.
What follows is a descent into the infinite, where horrors whisper in the dark and a spider offers him a terrible bargain: accept, and walk again.
But acceptance comes at a cost—and some worlds are small for a reason.
A tale of confinement, madness, and the thin line between faith and fear.
© Smug Rust Studios, 2025. All rights reserved.
Do not copy or distribute without permission.
If you enjoy the story, please like, share, and subscribe for more chilling tales. Your support helps keep the nightmares alive!
","author_name":"Red Edwards"}